Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Hastings, NE
Issued by NWS Hastings, NE
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467 FXUS63 KGID 042101 AFDGID Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Hastings NE 401 PM CDT Tue Jun 4 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - A cold front continues to push south through the area this afternoon. A few isolated to scattered storms may develop late this afternoon along this front, clearing the area to the southeast by mid-evening. If storms develop, they would have the potential to be strong-marginally severe. - Wednesday and Thursday bring dry conditions and warmer temperatures to the area. This is especially true of Wednesday, with highs forecast in the upper 80s to low 90s...accompanied by gusty westerly winds. - Periodic, generally low (20-30 percent) chances for showers/storms return to the area Friday on into early next week. Overall confidence in any finer details like timing/location is pretty low at this point. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 358 PM CDT Tue Jun 4 2024 Currently through tonight... Upper air and satellite data showing a shortwave trough axis making its way through the Plains this afternoon, extending southward from low pressure over central Canada. Elsewhere across the CONUS, another shortwave disturbance is in the IA/MO/IL border area, while broad ridging extends northward closer to both coasts. At the surface, this upper level trough is shoving a cold front south through the area, at 3PM was roughly located halfway through the forecast area. Ahead of this boundary, thanks in part to showers/storms that passed through earlier in the day, winds have been on the light/variable side...behind the front, it`s gusty northerly winds. Precipitation that started early this morning gradually slid from west to east through the day, driven more by warmer air advection aloft...with the strongest activity moving across KS. This afternoon, had a few isolated storms develop along the surface front over portions of Dawson/Gosper Counties...but those have since dissipated. Isolated to scattered activity will still be possible the rest of this afternoon along that surface boundary...but what passed through this morning/early afternoon didn`t do any favors in producing a favorable environment. Thought at least modest amounts of instability around, deeper layer shear and low-mid level lapse rates are on the lower side. Kept chances on the lower side (20-30 percent) due to activity not expected to be widespread. Once this surface boundary pushes southeast of the forecast area, the preciptiation chances go along, and have a dry forecast by mid-evening, lasting through the overnight hours. Mid-week... Overall, little change to the forecast for Wednesday and Thursday, which remains dry. Models are in good agreement showing the forecast area being under northwesterly flow aloft, as the system from today digs further south as it treks east, and the ridging over the western CONUS shifts east more into the Rockies. Not looking to be much in the way of notable disturbances sliding through the forecast at this time. At the surface, high pressure builds into the area tonight, bringing more light/variable winds...turning more westerly and picking up in speed during the day on Wednesday. The area will be sitting between that surface sliding further south and another frontal boundary making its way toward us through the Dakotas...the tightening pressure gradient and increased mixing potential bringing the possibility of westerly winds gusting 25-30 MPH for much of the afternoon hours. This along with warmer lower level air mass to tap into and plenty of sun expected...kept highs on the warmer side of things (warmer than most 12Z models/guidance), with the forecast having upper 80s-low 90s for most of the forecast area. That being said, if the timing of this front (which does have `cooler` air with it) speeds up, that could throw a wrench in the high temp forecast. Winds eventually turn more northerly with the passage of that surface front Wednesday evening/night, but diminish in speed as higher pressure builds in. That surface high is expected to slide SE through the area during the day on Thursday, keeping winds overall on the lighter side. Expecting another day with plenty of sun, an overall pretty nice day with cooler high temps in the low 80s and dewpoints currently forecast in the 40s. Friday on through the weekend... Spotty rain/storm chances return to the forecast Friday on through the weekend into early next week...but overall confidence in any timing/location details is pretty low, especially the further out in time you go. In general, models showing the upper level riding over the Rockies/western CONUS getting broken down by disturbances moving through, turning flow over the Central Plains a bit more westerly/zonal (to varying degrees depending on the model). Will have increasing potential for periodic shortwave disturbances to slide through the region...and because of lingering model uncertainties with timing/location, NBM chances are low, mainly in the 20-30 percent range. As far as temperatures go, expecting highs in the 80s to stick around into Friday, with the forecast a touch cooler into the mid 70s to low 80s for the weekend into early next week. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/... Issued at 1230 PM CDT Tue Jun 4 2024 Main concern comes within the first few hours of the period, as a surface frontal boundary and storm chances push through the area. Because activity looks to be more isolated/scattered in nature and confidence in impact at the terminals, kept as a VCTS mention, but will be keeping an eye on how things evolve this afternoon. Winds currently are on the lighter side and somewhat variable, this front will usher in gusty northerly winds mid- late afternoon. Once these storm chances pass, dry weather and VFR conditions are forecast for the rest of the period. Winds this evening turn light/variable again, becoming westerly early Wed morning...gusts near 20-25 MPH are possible for the final few hours of the period. && .GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NE...None. KS...None. && $$ DISCUSSION...ADP AVIATION...ADP